Spinal Neighbors Irritate Each Other: Adjacent Segment Disease

05/31/2016

Good neighbors. Bad neighbors. Supportive neighbors. Annoying
neighbors. Know any Auburn neighbors like that? Well, neighbors
aren’t restricted to the suburban Auburn neighborhood. They’re in
the spine, too. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. deals with them every day! Neighboring spinal
elements are called adjacent segments. When all these spinal segments are
healthy, there’s no problem. When one segment becomes unhealthy or irritated, degenerates,
herniates, bulges, experiences a back surgery or fusion surgery, etc., it
affects its neighboring segments (nerves and discs). Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. may be the
mediator of - the Auburn back pain specialist for - these spinal
elements and help each segment individually become healthier and function
better with the whole spinal system.

So what determines if an adjacent segment will respond
poorly to its neighboring disc’s deterioration or back surgery procedure?
Whether that adjacent disc has some degeneration itself already. If the
adjacent disc is healthy and normal, the likelihood of its decline is less after
a lumbar posterolateral fusion back surgery. (1) Also, the more segments that are fused in a
spinal surgery increases the risk of adjacent segment degeneration. (2)
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is in our Auburn chiropractic patient’s corner to
bring about back pain relief that may help prevent a back surgery.

Now, a tricky part of this adjacent segment issue is that spinal
nerves communicate beyond their own respective spinal level (usually just one level up or down).
Cervical and thoracic spine nerves communicate greatly while lumbar spine ones
don’t as much. But these communications can produce symptoms that may be a
level off. (3)This makes things interesting! A symptom may be produced by
various nerves. That’s why your Auburn chiropractor does so many
different tests during the Auburn chiropractic examination to be
sure the correct diagnosis is made as this diagnosis guides the treatment plan
for your back pain and neck pain relief. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is well experienced in
back and neck pain diagnosis!

Adjacent segment issues impact even neuropathic pain, a
chronic disease of the nervous system involving spinal nerves. It’s pain that
extends into the extremities and feet. How? Well, the dorsal root ganglion
(DRG) houses the spinal nerves that run throughout the spine between and among
the spinal levels. Within the DRG, some spinal nerves function well, and others
are damaged. Researchers are now finding a way to differentiate been these
damaged and healthy nerves. (4) Just where all of this information will take
back pain care is to be determined, but it is amazing! Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. keeps on
top of these nuances to provide the most accurate care possible for our
Auburn chiropractic clients.

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About Our Auburn chiropractic Practice

Our method at Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. centers on chiropractic wellness as well as alleviation of pain, especially spine pain and its related conditions. We administer in depth care for back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, arm pain, leg pain, and injuries to the body from a car accident, sports injury or other cause. Our chiropractic practice respectfully serves the Auburn area. We pride ourselves on being patient-oriented and responsive to your needs be they about insurance filing or appointment making or your health and healing. We provide customized treatment plans to accommodate your specific needs. If you're in need of a chiropractor in the Auburn area, contact us today!